2023 Friday Nov. 3

La Storta to Vatican City

Click here for the video:  https://www.relive.cc/view/vrqDYLGXWLv 

Last day of our big walk. The weather forecast rain in early afternoon so we hoped to arrive before the downpour. Now that we’re so close to Rome, it seems strange that there are fewer trail markings and more confusion between the guidebook and maps.

 

Part of our trail was through a park called “undeveloped” in the guidebook. That was an understatement, but we were greeted by this pilgrim welcome duo who followed along with us for about an hour. When we stopped, they stopped. Sometimes they knew a better way to avoid a muddy trail, so they would show us an alternate way. It was a sad goodbye when we left the park and Richard had to shoo them back into their own safe haven.

 

After slogging through city streets (and rain hitting early), we’re now in Monte Mario Park where we should get our first views of the Vatican. The trails are rocky and pitted, and now rain makes it slicker.

 

We’re standing outside the gate from which we should begin the trail switchbacks down to the Vatican. However, it’s closed. We were pondering where to go when fellow pilgrims Tina and Victor showed up. There is no safe way down, but we decide that safety in numbers was the best course so the four of us went down the busy road together.

 

Plotting the course with Victor and Tina.

 

We’ve arrived!!!! St. Peter’s Basilica.

 

One of the two fountains in St. Peter’s Square and the 4000-year-old Egyptian obelisk brought to Rome by Emperor Caligula in 37 AD for his Roman Circus. It was moved to its present position in the 16th century, taking over a year to move it without damage.

Tina and Victor headed off to get their Testimonium after completing the Via Francigena while we headed off to get some lunch and check into our hotel almost 3.5 miles away from the Vatican. We’ll get our Testimonium and see St. Peter’s Basilica tomorrow. As Peter and Karen said earlier in our journey: “We’ll see you again somewhere in the world.”

 

Comments:

Unknown: Such amazing adventures. So glad. Got to see it with you. 2023/11/05 at 9:16 pm

Kathy Nichols: Congratulations on completing (almost) this year’s pilgrimage walk!
I love today’s blog. You are an inspiration. Today it seemed like everywhere you turned, there was a “challenge” – locked gate, early downpour, etc., and yet both of you continue to smile brightly. And your furry travel companions were so special. 2023/11/05 at 11:26 pm

Reply: Thanks for following our trails. The challenges keep us adjusting but nothing has been insurmountable without help from wonderful people. As always, it is wonderful to have made our goal. Two more days of Rome pictures yet to post (whew!) and now we’re off to see more Italian “family” on the Adriatic coast. 2023/11/06 at 7:11 pm

Dave Wolfe: I knew you could do it and with bright smiles at the termination. You pilgrims progressed with stamina, courage, pleasure (particularly at the end of the days) and determination (I could go on!) I am sue we all in he Thursday group anxiously await your overview of the trip as youj provided after your Spanish adventures. 2023/11/06 at 5:02 am

Reply: Thank you, Dave. There is such joy at reaching a goal, and particularly in the square of the largest church in the world! 2023/11/07 at 5:42 am

Wanda Penner: You and many pilgrims arrive. I guess it is meant to always be a challenge, just as it should be for the serious pilgrim. 2023/11/07 at 4:04 am

Reply: We have seen very few pilgrims arriving when we were. The line to enter St. Peter’s Basilica snakes all through the piazza but there is a special entrance with no line for disabled people, pregnant women, pilgrims and a few others. That was an unexpected benefit. I’ve pondered your comment about serious pilgrims to determine what that means to me. I was serious about completing my walking goal, but have relaxed a bit over time to make the task more reasonable. We have a goal of entering any church with an open door (and no service going on) to learn what we can and appreciate the art, but that is not my highest goal. As a pilgrim walker we have a simple time: eat, sleep, walk. The rest from our busy lives for 3-4 weeks is a gift. The adventures, people, and surprises (even challenges) remind us to be thankful and appreciate the journey. 2023/11/07 at 6:09 pm

Dan Hendry: What great pilgrims you have been! Loved the wonderful pictures from your adventures. Looking forward to hearing more details about highlights from the trip such as “did you cheat and ride the donkeys part of the way, or describe when you were the most lost on the trip.” Sure you have lots to share! 2023/11/06 at 8:51 pm

Reply: I trusted the donkeys but not quite enough to ride them. What a wonderful surprise gift they were! I’ll have to think on when we were most lost (lots of choices!) 2023/11/07 at 5:47 am

David Holt: Congratulations on completing the walk. We’re always asked which walk we have liked the most….we like them all and for many different reasons. And like all walks they kind of seem like a dream after they come to an end and we’ve had time to reflect. The memories of the sights, the struggles, and the people we meet will be with us always. Hope to see you both again in the future. Again congrats. 2023/11/07 at 1:38 pm

Reply: I have no doubt that we will see each other again somewhere in the world, or at least on internet. You both have inspired us to create our bucket list so we’ll keep following after you. We are in the relaxing reflective stage now and agree it is hard to compare the walks, and even to explain why we do them. Perhaps we will have more thoughts after we finish this week with our Italian “family” in Marche and Emilio-Romano. Sempre Buon Camino! 2023/11/07 at 5:54 pm